Ski goggles



June 30, 1970 G. H. BEAUCHEF 3,517,393

SKI GOGGLES Filed Nov. 7. 1968 United States Patent 3,517,393 SKI GOGGLES Gaston Henri Beauchef, Annecy, France, assignor to S0- ciete dApplication des Matieres Plastiques, Annecy, France, a body corporate of France Filed Nov. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 774,006 Claims priority, appliiationsgrance, Apr. 10, 1968,

Int. (:1. Asrr 9/02 US. Cl. 2-14 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to what are known as ski goggles and in particular to such goggles provided with anti-mist means.

The expression ski goggles will be employed hereinafter but it must be understood that such goggles can have applications other than this particular application which has been given merely by way of preference.

The ski goggles usually comprises an enveloping frame on which is fixed, if desired detachably, a tinted screen of material known under the trade name of Rhodoglass or Plexiglas. The major drawback of conventional goggles resides in the fact that mist has a tendency to form on the screen and this prevents correct vision.

Consequently, ski goggles have been provided with ventilating apertures which overcome this drawback of misting but which, on the other hand, results in the formation of a stream of air which is sufficiently violent to become unpleasant and even painful to the eyes of the user as soon as a certain speed is reached. This has therefore led to the provision in front of these apertures of manually controllable closing flaps which can be placed either in a position in which they open the apertures or in a position in which they close the aperture. Such devices are hardly practical since the user usually wears thick gloves and it is diflicult for him to shift the closing flaps. Moreover, they are rather complicated and materially increase the price of the goggles.

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks.

The invention provides goggles of utility in particular for skiing comprising an enveloping frame on which is fixed a screen of transparent material and at least one ventilating passage provided with a closing flap, wherein said closing flap is pivoted to said frame in such manner as to be freely pivotable about a pivot axis, the arrangement being such that when the speed of the user relative to the surrounding air is less than a predetermined value, said flap is normally maintained in a position for opening said passage under the action of its own weight, whereas said relative speed reaches said pre determined value, said flap is maintained in a position for substantially closing said passage under the effect of the force resutling from said relative speed.

The essential advantage of the present invention resides therefOre in the automatic passage of the or each closing flap to the suitable position as a function of the conditions of utilization.

Patented June 30, 1970 Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of goggles according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side elevational views showing the flaps respectively in the position for opening and in the position for closing the corresponding passage.

One embodiment of ski goggles has been shown in the drawing including the improvement according to the invention.

These goggles comprise an enveloping frame 1 moulded of plastics material to which is fastened a tinted screen 2 of a material known under the trade name of Rhodoglass or like material. This screen can be Permanently fixed or detachable in the known manner. The frame 1 also carries an elastic fixing band 3 and a band 4 of foam material which comes in contact with the forehead, temples, nose and cheeks of the user.

Provided in the front part 1 of the frame 1 are passages 5, whereas lateral apertures 6 are provided between the lower lateral part lb of this frame and screen 2.

Disposed at the rear of the passages 5 are detectors 7 (FIG. 2) which are moulded with the frame and are adapted to direct the air towards the inner Wall of the screen while at the same time protect the eyes of the user.

Mounted in each passage 5 is a support 8 fixed by rivets 9 and adapted to support a flap 10. The support comrises two aligned orifices 8 in which are freely journalled two studs 10 which are in one piece with the flap. The latter has an L-section and the studs 10 are disposed in the vicinity of the free end of one of the branches of L so that the flap 10, under hte effect of its own weight, places itself in the passage-opening position shown in full line in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3.

Preferably, the branch of the L which faces forwardly has a convex shape.

The lower position of the flap is assumed when the user is stationary or is moving slowly. The path of the air is then that shown by the arrows P, f in FIG. 3, and an effective demisting is achieved.

When the user moves faster, the speed relative to the air increases and the air which impinges on the screen 2 (f in FIG. 4) exerts sufficient force on the flaps 10 to raise them by pivoting them about their pivot axes and places them in the passage-closing position shown in dotdash line in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4.

This closure is not of course perfect so that a stream of air is created which is suificient to preclude formation of mist on the screen while it does not present any inconvenience for the eyes of the user.

It is clear that these flaps can be disposed and constructed in ways other than those described and shown, the essential feature of the invention being the automatic passage of the flaps from One position to the other as a function of the conditions of utilization with no necessity for the user to act on anything.

Having now described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Goggles, in particular for skiing, comprising an enveloping frame on which is fastened a screen of transparent material, and at least one ventilating passageway provided with a closing flap, said passageway opening through the facing of said frame and extending substantially in a horizontal direction, said closing flap being pivoted to said frame on a horizontal axis, said flap having a substantially L-shaped cross section, and said horizontal axis being located adjacent the free end of one of the branches of the L, the outer face of the other branch facing forwardly of said frame, the arrangement being such that when the speed of the user relative to the surrounding air is less than a predetermined value, said flap is normally maintained in a downward posi tion for opening said passageway under the action of its own weight, Whereas when said relative speed reaches said predetermined value the outer face of said flap coacts with the air whereby said flap is moved upward and maintained in a position for substantially closing said passageway under the effect of the force resulting from said relative speed.

2. Goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein a deflector is provided at the rear of said passageway for directing the stream of air passing through said passageway against said screen.

3. Goggles as claimed in claim 1, including a moulded element which is mounted in said passageway and to which said flap is pivoted.

4. Goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said forwardly facing outer face of said flap has a convex shape.

5. Goggles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said h0rizontal ventilating passageway is the sole ventilating passage.

H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

